The Shumans of Israel

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Here are Jodie and Ellis standing on the steps of The Shuman Mansion.

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Jodie was born on Aug. 14, 1956 in New York City, and spent her childhood years in Ithaca, New York. In 1971 Jodie made "aliyah" with her family to Israel. Parents, Reuven and Doris Kaufman, younger sisters Laura, Ellen and Brenda, and Jodie lived in the Absorption Center in Mevesseret Zion for two years before moving to Moshav Neve Ilan. Jodie's parents were founding members of the moshav, having joined the "garin" - the nucleus group - in the States. Jodie finished high school in Israel, spent 6 months in the States and then began her service in the Israeli Army.

Ellis was born on Dec. 3, 1956 and grew up in Sioux City, Iowa. In 1972, along with parents Ben and Marion Shuman, and younger sisters, Debby and Judy, Ellis made "aliyah" to Jerusalem, Israel. Ellis finished high school in Jerusalem, and then began his service in the Israeli Army.

During their service in the Army, Jodie and Ellis were members of a "garin" to settle Kibbutz Yahel, a new kibbutz in the Arava, Israel's southern desert near Eilat. In 1977 the kibbutz was established, and the following year Jodie and Ellis were married. Jodie worked on the kibbutz in the bookkeeping department, and Ellis worked in various jobs - including pest control in the kibbutz's tomato fields and milking in the kibbutz's cowshed.

In 1983, with three young children, Jodie and Ellis decided that kibbutz life didn't give them enough independence as a family, and moved to Moshav Neve Ilan. The moshav offered a compromise to the Shumans' ideaological principles - a communal, collective way of life, but the privacy of eating at home and the integrity of the family unit.

Jodie now works as a bookkeeper in an accountants office in Jerusalem - she commutes by bus each day. Ellis works in the moshav's hotel. In the past he has managed the Dining Room, worked at the Reception Desk and in Reservations and managed Food and Beverages. Today he splits his time between studying Hotel Management and working in the hotel's Credit Department.